Chapter 17

A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner but things have been crazy. Thanks to all those who are still reading it means a lot. Enjoy :) and don't forget to review thanks :) I have been trying to get this chapter up for the last couple of days but we had a storm hit us they knocked out all the power. I finally got power back but a lot of others haven't. Thanks for being patient

Dinner had gone smoothly and now everyone was sitting in the living room. Dan was on the floor playing with the kids while Brooke and Lucas at on the couch watching them. The kids played with Dan for a little bit longer before Brooke told them it was time for bed.

"Brooke you have done a wonderful job with Noah," Dan said as he got up from the floor.

"Thanks, Dan. It was nice having you over for dinner, hopefully we can do it again sometime Brooke replied.

"That sounds good," Dan said.

"Noah tell Grandpa Dan goodnight. Lily say goodnight to Dan," Lucas said.

Noah mumbled a goodnight as he laid his head in his mother shoulder as she held him. Lily waved and grabbed Brooke's free hand as she lead the children out of the room. As she passed Lucas he leaned over and placed a kiss on Noah forehead And then placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

Lucas headed back over to the couch where Dan was seated as he looked though the photo album Brooke brought out of Noah.

"I wish I could have been there for Brooke when Noah was born," Lucas said as he say down.

"She was strong just like your mom was at that age when she had you," Dan replied.

Lucas noticed how quiet became after his comment. The old Lucas would have said something to make Dan feel guilty about not being there for him when he was younger but this Lucas was trying to make a fresh start with Dan.

"You can't change the past. All you can do is worry about the future. Your making the effort to right the wrongs of the past so let that be good enough." Lucas said.

"Your right," Dan replied, "We're building a relationship in the present. I just hope one day soon I will be spending time with both my sons and their sons. "

The two of them talk for an hour about how Lucas was handling fatherhood and other things. Lucas glanced at his watch and saw how late it was. He couldn't believe how long he and Dan talked. But it felt good knowing that he could talk to him that long without thinking about the past. It just showed him how far he and Dan have come.

"It's getting late and I have to be up early for work tomorrow but it had been good talking to you." Lucas said.

Dan nodded his head at Lucas and said, "Thanks for having me over hopefully we can do this again sometime."

"Definitely" Lucas replied as he walked Dan out.

After letting Dan out Lucas headed to Noah's room to check on the kids. When he opened the door he found them both sound asleep. He placed a gentle kiss on each of their heads and left the room.

As he walked into their bedroom Brooke gave him a smile as he walked toward the bathroom to change. As he emerged from the bathroom he made his way over to the bed where Brooke was working on her sketches.

Brooke stopped what she was doing as Lucas got in the bed. "I have to say I thought tonight went better than I expected," Brooke said.

Lucas nodded his head in agreement and said, "I'm glad that we're both trying to let go of the past and build a better relationship."

"I'm happy that a least one of us has a chance to build a relationship with the parent that abandoned us." Brooke said as she brushed her hair behind her ears.

Lucas pulled Brooke into a tight hug as he kissed the top of her head and said, "I know you wish you had a better relationship with your parents Pretty Girl."

"I don't know why I bother I mean my father could care less about me and my mother is a bitch who only wants my company." Brooke replies as tears fell from her eyes.

They sat in silence a Brooke drew from the love that Lucas was giving her. She lifted her head from his chest and said, "No more talk of my absentee parents, it's their loss. I'm better off without them. I have my own family now and that's all that matters." she said with a small smile.

Lucas could tell that she really didn't mean anything she just said about her parents. He knew that Brooke would give anything in the world to have a normal conversation or even to hear them say they loved her.